Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

(von Marenzeller, 1886)

Vernacular names
English : Mushroom leather coral
French : Corail cuir géant

Classification
Class : Anthozoa
Order : Malacalcyonacea
Family : Sarcophytidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Colonies are often huge and can grow to more than 50 cm high and more than 80 cm in diameter. Wide base, large thick folds with crowded polyps established on thin bases on the insides of the colony. Greenish to yellowish color.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from east Africa and Red Sea to south Japan, north Australia and the South China Sea. Lives in reef flats on lagoons and seaward slopes, down to 30 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : This is a dominant species on coral reefs but it is vulnerable to ocean acidification, warming and other threats linked to pollution and climate change.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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